How Garmin InReach Messenger Works

The main function of Garmin Inreach Messenger is as its name suggests: it allows you to send messages to people via satellite when you are in a place where there is no cellular signal. Specifically, it uses a low-orbit Iridium communications satellite, which isn’t as powerful as GPS and won’t overcome thick obstacles like buildings or mountains, meaning it won’t work indoors and will transmit more slowly through thick tree cover. But he will be it penetrates the most natural barriers quite reliably.

By default, InReach Messenger listens for messages every ten minutes so family members can keep in touch, and you can manually check or send your messages at any time.

To use InReach Messenger, you’ll need to download the Garmin Messenger app, sign in to your Garmin account, and share your phone contacts with the app, making it easy for other users to find you. You can then send Garmin Messages via SMS or email, as well as through the app itself. (Note: You can also send quick messages through the app on your Garmin watch of choice.)

You can use Garmin Messenger to send or receive free messages when you’re in cellular range. Otherwise, you need a subscription to send satellite messages; We’ll explain the costs and limitations in detail below. Basically, any subscription will give you unlimited SOS alerts to emergency services and 3 default “check-in messages” to reassure loved ones, such as “I’m fine” or “end of trip”; but you’ll have to pay more to send and receive private messages or your location data.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Garmin lets you customize your three preset messages, and its immutable check-in messages seem like an annoying way to force you to spend money instead of writing more natural and useful messages like “I’m stopping.” per day.” You will be charged each time get a message over satellite, so you’ll want to warn loved ones not to send messages to your Garmin account unless it’s vital.

You can technically use the Garmin InReach Messenger without a phone, but it only has three physical buttons—left, right, and OK—that are pretty stiff and hard to press, allowing you to scroll through the alphabet to select each letter. a frustratingly slow message.

That’s why you’ll want to make sure your phone is fully charged so you can write messages in the Garmin Messenger app and send them via the InReach Messenger device via Bluetooth connectivity. Otherwise, you’ll have to rely on these generic login messages.

Once everything is set up, you can set InReach Messenger to send your messages to specific people in your contact list, as well as send your location information at regular intervals that your friends can see on your Mapshare page. You can adjust the frequency of your location access from a few minutes to a few hours, which you can choose if you want to save battery life.

If something happens to you and you can’t call SOS, your contacts can see where you’re stopped and send emergency services themselves. Otherwise, you can press the dedicated SOS button hidden under the cover so you can’t accidentally press it, and the 24/7 Garmin Response Team will send your location and information to the nearest local emergency services, while also contacting you. Help will arrive regardless of whether you answer, but you can answer the call on your connected phone or send a message on InReach Messenger to explain your situation.

How much does it cost to use Garmin InReach Messenger?

In addition to the Garmin InReach Messenger’s $299 price tag, you’ll need to pay for a satellite subscription. You can choose either an annual “Contract” plan or a “Freedom” plan that allows you to pay for just one month or more at a time, giving you more flexibility when you only travel to remote areas at certain times of the year.

We have outlined the main differences between the plans below:

So, in addition to the high price of InReach Messenger itself, the minimum you can pay to use it for travel will be either $50 for a month or $170 for an annual contract, with the price going up for more premium plans.

Who needs Garmin InReach Messenger and why?

Anyone who owns an iPhone 14 Pro will note that it can send emergency SOS messages via satellite at any time for free. We’ve heard strong rumors that android satellite phones are also coming soon. This may be a feature only on more expensive phones, but the InReach Messenger is not a smartphone displacement for outdoor types (or anyone), so is it worth buying over your phone?

There are a few reasons to consider this: you can’t use the iPhone 14 Pro’s satellite connection to track regular messages or registrations. An iPhone battery will last a day or two at most, while the InReach Messenger can last about 28 days with infrequent location tracking and messaging.

Plus, the InReach Messenger features a durable waterproof design, reverse charging to give your phone some extra juice, and a Tracback route that takes you back to your starting point when you get lost—all great benefits when you’re in the rough.

In other words, a rugged Garmin InReach Messenger will be more likely to withstand some catastrophic damage or hold battery life than a phone, give emergency services more accurate information about your location, and be better for “casual” check-ins with the family. if you often get stuck in dead zones away from wi-fi or cellular networks.

These are all great perks to have in your pocket in an emergency, but the high price of entry and bulky design mean it’s only something we’d recommend for serious hikers and adventurers who spend an unhealthy amount of time off the grid. I don’t want to be dangerous about it. Otherwise, with phones like the Galaxy S23 getting satellite connectivity this year, more casual outdoorsy types who rarely spend time in dead zones may not need something so specialized.